States With the Most Army Personnel: Every State Ranked

According to Global Firepower’s 2024 Military Strength Rankings, the United States has the most powerful military in the world, followed by Russia and China, respectively. There are a total of around 1.3 million personnel, and of that total, as of July 2023, over 452,000 are in the Army. Although this is a slight decline from the 465,000 the previous year, the U.S. is optimistic that these numbers will once again begin to climb.

All 50 states, plus Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia) have an Army presence or installation, though some states have a greater presence than others. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed unclassified military personnel data from the Department of Defense Personnel, Workforce Reports & Publications, using data from Sept. 30, 2022 — the most recent fully updated data to determine the states boasting the highest number of Army personnel. We considered active-duty Army personnel serving in each state and the District of Columbia adjusted per 100,000 state population. (Also see, states with the most veterans all 50 states ranked.) 

It may come as a surprise to see that the top two states with active-duty personnel per 100,000 are the states farthest west and the most recent to join the Union. Both Alaska and Hawaii are the only states with active-duty Army personnel of 1,000 or more per 100,000. Hawaii has the second-most Army sites — 20 — behind Alabama’s 22, and it has the highest Army reserve personnel of 165 per 100,000. Three states and the District of Columbia have one Army site. (Considering all branches, these are the states where most Americans serve in the military.)

The U.S. Department of Transportation/Bureau of Transportation Statistics’s National Transportation Atlas Database for May 2019 supplied the data on the number of Army sites in each state. State populations came from the Census Bureau’s Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for July 1, 2022. Notable Army bases came from 24/7 Wall St.’s previous piece about states with the largest Army presence.

Here are the states boasting the highest number of Army personnel.

51. Minnesota

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 2.7 per 100,000 (total: 154)
• No. of Army sites: 8 — 11th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Snelling
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 47.2 per 100,000 — 24th lowest

50. Connecticut

Source: Christian Horz / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 2.8 per 100,000 (total: 103)
• No. of Army sites: 3 — 15th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 34.3 per 100,000 — 9th lowest

49. New Hampshire

Source: Mario Tama / Getty Images News via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 3.1 per 100,000 (total: 43)
• No. of Army sites: 1 — 4th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 61.7 per 100,000 — 14th highest

48. Oregon

Source: GarysFRP / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 3.2 per 100,000 (total: 136)
• No. of Army sites: 8 — 11th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 10.3 per 100,000 — the lowest

47. Iowa

Source: Smith Collection/Gado / Archive Photos via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 3.3 per 100,000 (total: 105)
• No. of Army sites: 2 — 9th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 60.3 per 100,000 — 15th highest

46. West Virginia

Source: virsuziglis / iStock via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 3.5 per 100,000 (total: 63)
• No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 78.8 per 100,000 — 6th highest

45. Ohio

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 3.8 per 100,000 (total: 443)
• No. of Army sites: 8 — 11th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Columbus Def Depot
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 43.6 per 100,000 — 18th lowest

44. Idaho

Source: Becky Vanshur / Wikimedia Commons

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 3.9 per 100,000 (total: 75)
• No. of Army sites: 3 — 15th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 32.2 per 100,000 — 8th lowest

43. Michigan

Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 4.2 per 100,000 (total: 422)
• No. of Army sites: 6 — 20th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Detroit Arsenal
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 25.3 per 100,000 — 5th lowest

42. Arkansas

Source: DVIDSHUB / Wikimedia Commons

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 4.5 per 100,000 (total: 136)
• No. of Army sites: 3 — 15th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 48.3 per 100,000 — 26th highest

41. North Dakota

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 4.5 per 100,000 (total: 35)
• No. of Army sites: 2 — 9th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 25.7 per 100,000 — 6th lowest

40. Montana

Source: dvids / Flickr

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 4.6 per 100,000 (total: 52)
• No. of Army sites: 3 — 15th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 54.5 per 100,000 — 20th highest

39. Wyoming

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 4.6 per 100,000 (total: 27)
• No. of Army sites: 1 — 4th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 12.6 per 100,000 — 2nd lowest

38. Maine

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 4.9 per 100,000 (total: 68)
• No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 22.7 per 100,000 — 4th lowest

37. Tennessee

Source: soldiersmediacenter / Flickr

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.0 per 100,000 (total: 351)
• No. of Army sites: 8 — 11th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 47.7 per 100,000 — 25th lowest

36. Massachusetts

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.1 per 100,000 (total: 355)
• No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 37.9 per 100,000 — 13th lowest

35. Nevada

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.1 per 100,000 (total: 163)
• No. of Army sites: 3 — 15th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 43.7 per 100,000 — 20th lowest

34. South Dakota

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.3 per 100,000 (total: 48)
• No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 38.6 per 100,000 — 14th lowest

33. Delaware

Source: delawarenationalguard / Flickr

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.3 per 100,000 (total: 54)
• No. of Army sites: 2 — 9th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 50.3 per 100,000 — 24th highest

32. Utah

Source: George Frey / Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.5 per 100,000 (total: 185)
• No. of Army sites: 6 — 20th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Dugway Proving Ground
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 77.5 per 100,000 — 7th highest

31. Vermont

Source: ErikaMitchell / iStock via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.6 per 100,000 (total: 36)
• No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 17.0 per 100,000 — 3rd lowest

30. New Jersey

Source: Aneese / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 6.5 per 100,000 (total: 598)
• No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Dix
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 42.8 per 100,000 — 17th lowest

29. Wisconsin

Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 7.1 per 100,000 (total: 419)
• No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort McCoy
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 60.1 per 100,000 — 16th highest

28. Pennsylvania

Source: soldiersmediacenter / Flickr

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 7.6 per 100,000 (total: 992)
• No. of Army sites: 11 — 6th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Carlisle Barracks
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 50.5 per 100,000 — 23rd highest

27. Illinois

Source: EAGiven / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 7.8 per 100,000 (total: 976)
• No. of Army sites: 7 — 17th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 43.6 per 100,000 — 19th lowest

26. Nebraska

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 8.1 per 100,000 (total: 159)
• No. of Army sites: 6 — 20th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 53.3 per 100,000 — 21st highest

25. Indiana

Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 9.0 per 100,000 (total: 614)
• No. of Army sites: 8 — 11th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 35.4 per 100,000 — 11th lowest

24. Rhode Island

Source: Javier Alvarez / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 9.5 per 100,000 (total: 104)
• No. of Army sites: 1 — 4th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 48.5 per 100,000 — 25th highest

23. Mississippi

Source: drnadig / iStock via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 14.6 per 100,000 (total: 428)
• No. of Army sites: 3 — 15th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: N/A
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 51.2 per 100,000 — 22nd highest

22. New Mexico

Source: JannHuizenga / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 16.1 per 100,000 (total: 340)
• No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: White Sands Missile Range
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 30.3 per 100,000 — 7th lowest

21. California

Source: DrewsPhotos / iStock via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 17.8 per 100,000 (total: 6,948)
• No. of Army sites: 10 — 8th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Presidio of Monterey
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 39.6 per 100,000 — 15th lowest

20. Florida

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 26.2 per 100,000 (total: 5,818)
• No. of Army sites: 2 — 9th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: U.S. Southern Command
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 44.6 per 100,000 — 22nd lowest

19. Arizona

Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 46.5 per 100,000 (total: 3,422)
• No. of Army sites: 8 — 11th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Huachuca
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 44.7 per 100,000 — 23rd lowest

18. Alabama

Source: Jacqueline Nix / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 80.7 per 100,000 (total: 4,096)
• No. of Army sites: 22 — the highest
• Notable Army base: Fort Rucker
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 82.8 per 100,000 — 4th highest

17. New York

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 84.6 per 100,000 (total: 16,645)
• No. of Army sites: 7 — 17th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Drum
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 34.6 per 100,000 — 10th lowest

16. Maryland

Source: coastalpics / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 132.3 per 100,000 (total: 8,156)
• No. of Army sites: 10 — 8th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort George G. Meade
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 92.2 per 100,000 — 2nd highest

15. Missouri

Source: tedpagel / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 138.2 per 100,000 (total: 8,536)
• No. of Army sites: 9 — 10th highest
• Notable Army base: Fort Leonard Wood
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 66.7 per 100,000 — 11th highest

14. Louisiana

Source: joeynick / iStock via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 163.5 per 100,000 (total: 7,506)
• No. of Army sites: 11 — 6th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Polk
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 36.5 per 100,000 — 12th lowest

13. South Carolina

Source: AdShooter / iStock via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 194.4 per 100,000 (total: 10,270)
• No. of Army sites: 2 — 9th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Jackson
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 70.3 per 100,000 — 9th highest

12. Virginia

Source: ablokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 226.2 per 100,000 (total: 19,646)
• No. of Army sites: 12 — 4th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Story
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 82.3 per 100,000 — 5th highest

11. Texas

Source: RonBailey / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 229.1 per 100,000 (total: 68,792)
• No. of Army sites: 16 — 3rd highest
• Notable Army base: Fort Hood
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 59.6 per 100,000 — 18th highest

10. District Of Columbia

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 274.0 per 100,000 (total: 1,841)
• No. of Army sites: 1 — 4th lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Belvoir
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 61.9 per 100,000 — 13th highest

9. Oklahoma

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 293.8 per 100,000 (total: 11,809)
• No. of Army sites: 7 — 17th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Sill
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 42.3 per 100,000 — 16th lowest

8. Washington

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 351.4 per 100,000 (total: 27,356)
• No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Lewis
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 59.7 per 100,000 — 17th highest

7. North Carolina

Source: pavdw / Flickr

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 422.7 per 100,000 (total: 45,223)
• No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Bragg
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 57.7 per 100,000 — 19th highest

6. Georgia

Source: ganatlguard / Flickr

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 429.6 per 100,000 (total: 46,877)
• No. of Army sites: 12 — 4th highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Benning
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 67.1 per 100,000 — 10th highest

5. Colorado

Source: chapin31 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 460.0 per 100,000 (total: 26,865)
• No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Carson
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 64.4 per 100,000 — 12th highest

4. Kansas

Source: wellesenterprises / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 589.6 per 100,000 (total: 17,317)
• No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Riley
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 72.7 per 100,000 — 8th highest

3. Kentucky

Source: JillianCain / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 755.4 per 100,000 (total: 34,085)
• No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Campbell
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 85.7 per 100,000 — 3rd highest

2. Hawaii

Source: NNehring / iStock via Getty Images

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 1,071.2 per 100,000 (total: 15,428)
• No. of Army sites: 20 — 2nd highest
• Notable Army base: Schofield Barracks
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 165.0 per 100,000 — the highest

1. Alaska

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

• Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 1,332.8 per 100,000 (total: 9,777)
• No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
• Notable Army base: Fort Jonathan Wainwright
• Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 44.6 per 100,000 — 21st lowest